The latest WITTMANN equipment at Plastpol 2014

From 27 to 30 May 2014, Dopak Sp.z.o.o., the WITTMANN Agent in Poland, will show the latest peripheral equipment to interested trade visitors in hall F, booth F2 at the Plastpol, the international plastics processing trade fair taking place in Kielce, Poland. The Polish market has become one of the most important markets in Europe.

W833 pro robot
The professional public in Kielce will have the chance to see the new robot model W833 pro. And the functional scope of the powerful R8 IPC robot control system has been expanded that is now presented in the version R8.3.

WITTMANN W833 pro robot

The development work for the new generation of robots began with the question of how to further improve what was already essentially a mature and thoroughly proven range of equipment. In order to identify the remaining development potential, a holistic study was undertaken to examine all of the processes – namely procurement, installation, programming, energy input and service – which could be more efficiently designed to the customers’ benefit.

The improvement suggestions which resulted from that study were compiled into technical specifications and formed the basis for the recently completed advanced development of the WITTMANN robots.Those technical specifications placed top priority on the modularity of the robot mechanics and of the drive and control system architecture – including the software. Because with such a vast range of applications and axis combinations, it takes a well-conceived modular construction to achieve an optimum price-performance ratio.

Consistent application of lightweight construction technology for the axes in combination with the drive concept WITTMANN developed especially for linear robots make the models of the W8 pro series extremely dynamic while maintaining extraordinarily low energy consumption at the same time. The resulting minimal use of moving lines for energy transmission and interconnection further extends the service life of the equipment.

Holding brakes with an automatic test function are built into all of the main axes as standard equipment, thereby allowing electrical power consumption to drop almost to zero and further increasing safety while the robot is at rest.

The R8 control system with its powerful IPC integrated into the unit and the WITTMANN R8.3 software with enhanced features give users access not only to the proven WITTMANN user interface and innovative functions such as SmartRemoval and EcoMode, but also a whole series of useful new tools. They make it easy to formulate process adjustments and permit direct control of peripheral units from the robot control system.

The advanced design underscores the outstanding characteristics of the new WITTMANN W8 pro robot series also with the visual impression that the equipment makes.And the signal lamps integrated into the device give the user instantaneous information about the status of the production unit.

W818 robot
The W818 model from WITTMANN is providing flexible automation for all current and future requirements on smaller molding machines. It is managing a maximum handling load of 6 kg. Minimum part removal times are essential for the highest productivity of the automation cell. Thus the vertical arms of the W818 models are stiff but lightweight ribreinforced aluminum profiles, driven via belt by a servo motor, thus reducing the moving mass.

WITTMANN universal series robot W818

Up to now it has been for over 3,000 times that plastics processors have relied on the WITTMANN W818 – an impressing argument in regard to the productive efficiency and the flexible capabilities of this robot.

This provides maximum energy efficiency and allows for easy replacement of the desiccant beads as an alternative to a costly wheel replacement.

Dew Point as low as -65°C (-85°F).

3-Save Process – Intelligent use of energy.

EcoMode – Indexing regeneration during lower water load.

ambiLED – The innovative control bezel conveniently displays the operating mode and dryer status through the use of color coded illumination.

Material Protection Function.

Dew Point Management.\

The two other models each come with two desiccant beds, so that they supply a continuous flow of air and a consistent quality of dry air for perfect drying of the material.

Drying plastic granulates normally requires a relatively high amount of energy. This is why WITTMANN has already concentrated for many years on the energy-efficiency of material dryers. As a result, these models are equipped with special energy-saving functions as standard. In every appliance, regeneration of the desiccant takes place during the particularly energy-saving counter airflow regeneration phase. Here, the desiccant is demoisturized extremely fast “in the direction opposite to the moisturizing airflow”. DRYMAX E60 comes with the additional SmartReg energy-saving function, which ensures optimal timing for regulating the regeneration and cooling of the desiccant bed.

All appliances come with a material protection function which prevents overdrying and thermal damage to the material.Every drying silo is made of stainless steel, equipped with a hinged cover and a sight glass, and insulated against heat loss. Silos with 150 l capacity also have a heat-insulated cleaning door.

The drying temperature, which can be set between 80 °C and 130 °C, covers the entire temperature range applicable to most common types of plastics. If a higher temperature is required for efficient drying of certain materials, these DRYMAX models can be retrofitted for high-temperature applications, which allow process temperatures of up to 180 °C.

GRAVIMAX B14 material blender
The gravimetric blender GRAVIMAX B14 is dealing with a throughput of up to 80 kg/h. The unit is fitted with a modernized control system which delivers higher performance and even higher precision in metering, even under adverse conditions. The stainless steel valves, which are suitable for metering virtually any conceivable materials (virgin material, regrind, mas¬terbatch, additives), have been taken over unchanged from the predecessor series. They are laid out for RTLS (Real Time Live Scale) operation, which means that continuous weighing ensures the utmost precision for every single batch of compound.

GRAVIMAX B14

Revolution in single conveying systems
The new FEEDMAX S3 net represents the future of the single conveying system in plastics processing. Single conveying systems are typically simple and effectively built material conveyer units which function independently from other (neighboring) equipment. Joining them together in a network, however, promises a genuine revolution.

Single conveying systems are usually used for very simple conveying tasks such as filling mobile dryers or feeding granulate into an injection molding unit. In the past, however, plastics processors have also repeatedly expressed their wish for the ability to control such equipment from a central location – specifically, the ability to control conveyance times or just to activate and deactivate the systems.

In practice, the typical application is a manufacturing cell consisting of a mobile dryer with a conveyor system alongside an injection molding unit which also has a single conveying system. Until now, if the conveyor systems had to be stopped or the conveyance times changed, the appropriate action had to be performed manually for each individual unit. In some cases this involved climbing up on the processing unit, and with larger drying hoppers a ladder was necessary, in order to reach the system. That could be avoided with a remote control, but each unit required its own control unit.

FEEDMAX S3 net

For the first time, the FEEDMAX S3 net from WITTMANN now combines the advantages of single conveying units with those of a centralized control system. Using a CAN bus, several FEEDMAX S3 net conveyor units can be linked together and controlled from a single console. WITTMANN provides a high-resolution 4.3″ TFT touch screen for this purpose, which displays complete information about the status of each separate unit. The information is processed graphically for display on the screen, in order to make operation as easy as possible. As standard equipment, the FEEDMAX S3 net features an LED status display which is easily visible even from a distance and thereby promotes production reliability. This LED display was first introduced with the Aton segmented wheel dryer. Meanwhile the principle has become a kind of trademark for the new developments from WITTMANN in the areas of material drying, dosing and conveying.

With its powerful 1,100 W motor, the FEEDMAX S3 net has become a real powerhouse. It is designed for conveying up to 200 kg/h. A micro-fiber filter made of polyester and its automatic cleaning system prevent power reduction when processing dust-laden materials. Made entirely of stainless steel, the unit can also be fitted with an optional 2-component diverter which enables it to convey both new product and regrind.

TEMPRO basic C120 temperature controller series
The success story of the directly cooled temperature controller began in 2009 when a system perfectly matched to the needs of the plastics industry, the TEMPRO direct C120, made its debut at the US trade fair NPE. And then with the TEMPRO primus C120, WITTMANN was able to extend the temperature controller line for large systems downward, while setting the bar on the market in terms of quality and technical features. Thereafter, the industry demanded temperature controllers which had to meet various demanding requirements: The devices had to be as compact as possible, but also offer versatile configuration options and be equipped with direct cooling and suitable high performance pumps. Moreover, they had to provide differentiated heating capacities for specific applications and also be able to deliver correspondingly high cooling capacities. The demand for such high performance units led to the development of the TEMPRO basic C120 temperature controller series.

Two different design sizes of the TEMPRO basic C120

Just as with the TEMPRO primus C120, the appeal of the systems in the TEMPRO basic C120 line lies in their compact construction and the versatile choice of primary technical components: the pump (0.75 kW – 200 l/min – 2.35 bar or 1.5 kW – 200 l/min – 3.65 bar), the heating capacity (12 kW or 18 kW ) and the cooling valves (⅜” or ½”).

TEMPRO basic C120 temperature controllers are also available in a somewhat larger version. In that case their pump size can be configured in the same way as the TEMPRO direct C120, whereby the pump capacities then range from 0.75 kW to 4 kW. The standard heating capacity of 12 kW can also be increased to 18 kW as an option. And the available choice of cooling valves (⅜”, ½”, ¾”) makes it possible to adjust cooling capacities in fine increments.

WITTMANN very clearly stands out among its competitors in this equipment sector once again, because as a special highlight – besides pumps with capacities of 2.2 kW and 4 kW – it ultimately offers equipment options which enable heating capacities of 36 kW and even 46 kW.

All of these technical configuration options with the standardized upper temperature limit of 120 °C guarantee trouble-free and optimized production processes wherever application-based high cooling capacities are needed in combination high feed rates.